A full (ish) class for camel
// how to teach "cheesy" things in a serious way
Dear Humans,
Sometimes as yoga teachers, I just have to say it, we can be a little cheesy.
:)
Is this okay? Absolutely.
I realized, maybe just over the past few years, that a good word to describe me is: earnest.
I’m a serious believer in the importance of this work. I’m a serious believer in how something like a gratitude practice, or a mindfulness practice, or a growth mindset can change your life. I believe in the power of breath, community, and love. I’m emotional and I feel deeply. Which makes all of those “cheesy” elements of a yoga class perfect for me.
But there are always people who will be less comfortable with this kind of stuff. In fact, if you’re in the US, you’ll likely see them around your Thanksgiving table this week. They are the type of people who protest when you propose to go around the table and share what you’re thankful for. The gooey, feeling stuff makes them uncomfortable. They’re in every group. In fact, you may be one of those people yourself!
My guess is that people like this simply need a different kind of approach to accept whatever information you’re trying to share.
So how do you reach them in yoga class? How do you ensure that the serious and important messages of the yoga practice come off in a way that resonates? How do you avoid sound cheesy when your goal is to actually inspire deep inner-reflection and learning?
Well, I would argue that you begin to shift from “cliché” into serious when you start doing your own research. When the words you say come from your own deep work and learning, rather than a repetition of something that you’ve heard others say.
Caveat: We all echo each other. So I don’t mean that everything you say as a teacher needs to be totally unique. Rather, I’m suggesting that your words will have the biggest impact if you’ve really digested what you’re actually saying.
If your teachings come from a place of authenticity, they will always have power.
Let me give you an example of how I started working with this concept in my own teaching. We’ll use the theme “gratitude” as an example.
Gratitude is a topic that yoga teachers like to weave into class. I certainly do, all the time. I used to cue it in a really simple way: “Think of three things you’re really grateful for.”
But we can go so much deeper here:
We can inquire what yoga tells us about gratitude. This search will likely lead you to the second Niyama, which is Santosha. Santosha roughly translates to contentment. Santosha is all about appreciating exactly what is in front of you. We can bring Santosha into our teachings on gratitude.
We can look at what scientific studies have uncovered about how gratitude impacts an individual. And there is a lot to look at here. When doing your research, you’ll see that a simple gratitude practice can lead to better physical and psychological health, increased happiness and life satisfaction, decreased materialism, and more. We can share this as we teach.
We can also reflect on our own experience of gratitude: What does it feel like to close your eyes and reflect on all the beauty already in your life? How does it feel in your body? What do you notice in your mind? In your heart? How can we incorporate this somatic reflection into our classes?
After exploring gratitude from a few different angles, we can now integrate what we’ve learned into what we teach.
Suddenly, a simple gratitude practice holds a lot more weight. More than that, because you, yourself have learned more about whatever it is you’re teaching about, your students will hear that interest and passion in your voice. They will be more drawn to what you’re saying.
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Humans, I have a special mini-flow for you today. It’s special because I’ve loved teaching it over the past week and it’s a good one. It’s one of those flows that looks simple, but the activation in the poses actually creates a fair amount of heat!
For my paid subscribers, I then offer two additional bonus flows. I’m giving you my class opening (which is so fun!) and the main-flow. With all three flows, you essentially have the tools to create a full yoga class. It’s a class that works on back bending and side-lengthening, which makes it a great class for teaching camel as a peak posture. Plus, I’ll give you a few other ideas for what you can teach! It’s a really cohesive class, if I do say so myself.
If you’re reading this, wishing you had access to all three yummy flows, then I have good news! I’m running a gratitude sale right now through Saturday.
33% off one year of a paid subscription! This is the last sale I’ll run before the New Year, so I hope you’ll take advantage of it.
—
I hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving ahead. I hope you encourage your community to go around the table and share what they’re grateful for. I hope you watch the naysayers lean into the moment, and watch the energy transform as loved ones share what makes them happy.
Never forget, there’s power in the simplest of acts.
I am grateful for each of you.
Sending love,
Izzy
Izzy Martens
author, yoga teacher, sequence enthusiast
www.yogahumans.com
What I Taught in Yoga This Week | November 26, 2024
the write-up
three legged dog
knee to nose
low lunge
easy twist
exhale: cactus top arm
inhale: reach arm forward
exhale: circle arm down
inhale: circle arm up
exhale: cactus arm and repeat arm flow as many times as you wish
wide leg forward fold
walk arms out for downdog torso
add in a twist (both sides)
low lunge (facing the back of the mat)
low crescent lunge with steeple finger grip
inhale: lengthen spine
exhale: micro twist
repeat x2
open arm low crescent twist
exalted
cartwheel hands to mat
three legged dog
walk hands back by three palm prints
stay here or reach same arm as the lifted leg back towards the standing ankle, try to balance
walk back out to down dog
repeat the flow on the other leg!
this will take you back to the front of the mat
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Okay, okay, okay. I don’t mean to brag but I’m actually obsessed with how this class comes together. First, I’m going to give you my class opening, which takes you all the way through sun salutations, but you’ll see that the movements are unique, and totally designed for the class ahead. Then, I’m giving you the “main flow.” This is the final standing sequence I taught, and it’s longer and more complex than the one above. I’ll share a few other tips on what I taught in class, too! Let’s jump in!
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